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CO Alarms included as part of the Green Deal

The Green Deal will now require a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm to be fitted in every home whose residents are at risk of CO poisoning, further to calls from the All Party Parliamentary Gas Safety Group (APPGSG).

As chair of the APPGSG, Barry led a delegation of charity and gas industry experts to meet with Greg Barker MP, Minister of State for Climate Change, to argue the case for including carbon monoxide alarms as part of the Green Deal.

Barry said:

"It is fantastic that we now have the opportunity to fit over twenty-six million new alarms thanks to The Green Deal. The inclusion of CO alarms in the installer standard will raise awareness amongst engineers as well as potentially saving lives. CO has no taste, smell or colour and we have long been campaigning for all homes to have an alarm fitted. I am delighted that the Government has listened to the All Party Group and hope that this is the first step of many towards improved Gas Safety."

The Green Deal is a Coalition initiative to increase the energy efficiency of Britain's buildings. The Deal will help finance owners carry out energy saving measures such as installing insulation, and the group explained to the Minister that increasing a property's energy efficiency often leads to less ventilation. If a faulty heating or cooking appliance is present in the home, an unintended consequence of the work will be a greater risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

As a result of the APPGSG's calls, the new Green Installer standard will require installers to assess the impact their work on the air tightness of the property. If there is an increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of their work, installers will be required to fit a carbon monoxide monitor.

Installers will also be required to check that any existing carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working.